MGNREGA workers in Noorabad lockdown BDO office

Srinagar, Mar 7: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) labours from Noorabad village of south Kashmir’s Kulgam districts on Thursday locked down the Block development Office (BDO) in Manzgam to mark a protest against the authorities for failing to release the pending payments.
According to reports, the MGNREGA workers said that authorities have failed to release their payment from past three years.
“Since 2016, the authorities have failed to release their payments of the work done so far,” they added.
The protesting workers said that they have done various developmental works including construction of bridges, footpaths, roads, lanes, drains, stairs and protection bunds, but “unfortunately, authorities are playing delaying tactics to release our payment.”
They said they won’t reopen the BDO office until their demands are not met.
Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD) Kulgam, Hilal Jerry told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that the funds are not available at present as they have not received any funds so far from Government of India.
He said the funds will be received by March 20, therefore, all the pending payment will be released once the funds be released. (KNS)